Bournemouth and Sunderland have been drawn against AC Milan in the Europa League, marking a historic European campaign for both Premier League clubs.
The landscape of European football is set for a significant shake-up as the Europa League league phase draw has finalized a series of high-profile matchups for English clubs. Bournemouth and Sunderland, both marking historic returns or debuts in continental competition, have been rewarded with glamorous ties against some of the continent's most storied institutions. For Bournemouth, the challenge represents a landmark moment in the club's history, as they prepare to host seven-time European champions AC Milan on the south coast of England. This encounter marks the first time the club has featured in a major European tournament following their impressive sixth-place finish in the Premier League last season.
Sunderland, meanwhile, is set to return to the European stage for the first time since 1973. The Black Cats have secured a prestigious trip to the iconic San Siro, where they will face AC Milan in a fixture that highlights the club's resurgence. The draw has provided both English sides with a challenging yet exciting path, requiring them to navigate a diverse set of opponents ranging from Spanish La Liga regulars to emerging champions from across Europe.
Beyond the headline clashes with Italian giants, both clubs face a demanding schedule that tests their squad depth and tactical versatility. Bournemouth’s journey will include trips to Spain to face Real Sociedad and Celta Vigo, alongside visits to Sparta Prague and Norwegian Cup winners Lillestrom. Their home schedule is equally rigorous, featuring matches against AZ Alkmaar and Israeli champions Hapoel Beersheba. These fixtures underscore the unpredictable nature of the new league phase format, which demands consistency across a broad spectrum of playing styles.
Sunderland’s path is similarly complex, featuring a mix of historic European clubs and ambitious challengers. The Wearside club will travel to face former UEFA Cup winners Anderlecht, while also welcoming Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, Dinamo Zagreb, and Levski Sofia to their home ground. Furthermore, they are slated to play against Polish clubs Jagiellonia Bialystok and Lech Poznan. Perhaps most intriguingly, Sunderland will travel to face Torreense, the Portuguese second-division side that shocked the football world ill host their European fixtures at the Estadio do Algarve, adding a unique logistical element to the competition.
The wider Europa League field remains as competitive as ever, with several established heavyweights looking to secure the title. The inclusion of clubs like Juventus and Bayer Leverkusen ensures that the road to the final in Frankfurt on May 26, 2027, will be arduous. For Crystal Palace, the reigning UEFA Conference League winners, the league phase presents an opportunity to build on their recent continental success. Their fixture list includes home games against Lech Poznan and Hoffenheim, with demanding away trips to Lyon, Salzburg, and a high-stakes visit to Istanbul to face Besiktas.
Scottish champions Celtic also find themselves in the mix after a difficult transition from the Champions League playoffs. Their campaign will feature a home tie against Marseille and an away trip to face Benfica, along with matches against Celta Vigo, Besiktas, and Torreense. As the competition progresses, the focus will shift toward which clubs can best manage the physical and mental demands of these increased European workloads. With the final scheduled to take place in Germany, teams are already positioning themselves for a long and taxing season that will test the resilience of every squad involved.
While the Europa League draws the headlines, the Conference League is set to provide its own of drama. Brighton and Hove Albion, representing the Premier League, will face a diverse set of challenges, including a home fixture against Monaco. Their campaign also sees them welcoming Universitatea Craiova and Kauno Zalgiris, while traveling to face Panathinaikos, Getafe, and Jablonec. This competition features high-profile participants such as Atalanta, Ajax, and Freiburg, as well as Hearts and Mohamed Salah’s current club, Trabzonspor.
The inclusion of these teams highlights the growing depth of European football outside the traditional elite. Hearts, for instance, will host Monaco and travel to Turkiye to face Trabzonspor, alongside a visit to Swiss champions Thun. The culmination of the Conference League season will take place on June 2, 2027, in Istanbul, at the home stadium of Besiktas. As the schedules are finalized, the footballing world turns its attention to the opening rounds of these competitions, where underdogs have the opportunity to make their mark against Europe's most established names.